Seychelles Nation 24-April-2017 - Quite a number of people queued up at the Seychelles Trading Company (STC) hypermarket on Saturday to have their traditional incandescent light bulbs exchanged for LED light bulbs, which has been described as the world's most efficient and reliable lighting technologies.

This was in response to the call from the GIS-UNDP-GET Resource Efficiency Project in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment, Energy and Climate Change, the Seychelles Energy Commission and the Public Utilities Corporation (PUC) for consumers to bring in their old bulbs for exchange during the launch of the National LED campaign.

The aim of the campaign is to promote the widespread use of more energy-efficient light technologies to replace energy inefficient ones, particularly the traditional incandescent light bulbs.

The activity coincided with World Earth Day which was also commemorated in Seychelles by a march in town by schools of the Wildlife Club of Seychelles. The children carried posters designed by themselves and from Peace Park walked through Albert Street, Independence Avenue and finished at the Peace Park.

"We are promoting the protection of the Earth," they said.

As for the LED (Light-emitting Diode) light bulbs, it is the most efficient light bulb for domestic use.

The national campaign is being launched in support of the government's energy objectives, one of which is to reduce the country's energy consumption through the adoption of energy efficient technologies.

Present at the event were the Minister for Environment, Energy and Climate Change Didier Dogley; principal secretary in the department of Energy and Climate Change Wills Agricole; chief executive of the Seychelles Energy Commission Tony Imaduwa, among other dignitaries and members of the public.

"With climate change affecting small island states, it is important we reduce our carbon footprints across the world. In Seychelles, until now, we are doing a great job, but it is clear demand for energy is on the increase very rapidly. So it is time we try to stop that increase and put in place energy efficient programmes," Minister Dogley said.

It is to this effect, he said, his ministry and stakeholders are launching this new programme to exchange incandescent light bulbs by LED ones.

He said these old bulbs were used by our grandparents, were not that efficient, emit lots of heat and less light.

"If you use LED light bulbs, you will notice a significant reduction in your monthly electricity bill," said the minister.

He said even if the LED light bulbs are more expensive, they have a long-term life and lasts 40 times longer than the incandescent bulbs.

"This forms part of the government's national programne for energy efficiency in domestic homes," he said.

Minister Dogley said in the coming years the government plans to exchange 200,000 LED light bulbs in Seychelles.

The public can still continue to exchange their incandescent light bulbs at the PUC counter when paying their bills. They have to produce their electricity bills for that purpose.